Dark Reaper Squad

"All who love life, fear the reaper."

Eldar who've chosen the aspect of the Dark Reaper are highly trained in ranged combat. Armed with some of the heaviest infantry weapons and linked to their weapons for unsurpassed accuracy, they are capable of striking down many enemies before they can reach the front lines. Their job is to strike at targets of opportunity, mowing all down with their destructive Reaper Launchers.

Tactics

The Dark Reaper aspect provides mobile heavy firepower for the Eldar. Their role is defined by the presence of the Fleet of Foot ability and long range. Their damage output is less than that of specialized units with Heavy Weapons, such as Space Marines with Heavy Bolters or Imperial Guardsmen armed with Plasma Guns. However, Fleet of Foot combined with high HP values give Dark Reapers the ability to position themselves out of range of enemy guns while still firing themselves, leading to great damage over time.

The Optics and Armour upgrades are essential for improving Eldar infantry utility, and in particular Dark Reapers benefit tremendously from both Optics upgrades. Receiving both a range boost to their Reaper Launchers as well as a tremendous 50% boost to damage, Dark Reapers scale tremendously through Tiers and are viable the whole game long, despite a hefty 70/0 cost.

For comparison, Dark Reapers with an Exarch and the first upgrades match the damage and range of TauFire Warriors while having 50% more HP. Tier 3 Dark Reapers do 50% more damage than upgraded Tau Fire Warriors as well as nearly matching the damage output of a Space Marine Terminator'sStorm Bolter. Even though equivalent Tier 3Warp Spider Squads do 50% more damage output than Dark Reapers, the upgraded Reaper Launcher still has far more range of the Deathspinner, lending a viable altenative ranged specialist when that extra reach is needed. There is also no maximum number to Dark Reapers that can be fielded, unlike Warp Spiders, although no more than 2 are usually needed.

Weaknesses of Dark Reapers include their high cost, small squad size, lack of other abilities, and vulnerability to being tied in melee combat. Unlike Fire Warriors who possess the ability to reduce ranged damage taken with an ability from their Shield Drone, Dark Reapers receive no other protection from fire aside from the Farseer'sFortune ability. This, combined with the high firepower of late-tier units, means that Dark Reapers become more vulnerable to heavy fire as the game progresses. Preserving the heavy investment in your Reapers is paramount to success.